by Carrie Carr
Amanda pointedly ignored the glare coming from her companion. “Thanks, Dave. I’ll get her over here more, I promise.”
Ida stood. “I’ll walk you out, honey.” She wrapped an arm around her son’s waist as they left the room.
Charlie was surprised to see Lex. She rarely took time just to visit, and he hoped there wasn’t anything wrong. “Everything okay out at the ranch?”
Lex stood and walked over to the fireplace. Leaning on the hearth, she turned back to face Charlie. “Yeah, pretty much. I do have a favor to ask of you, though.”
Charlie could barely keep his jaw from dropping. She’s asking for help? Now that’s a change. “Sure, Lex, name it.”
“Amanda and I are flying to California tomorrow to pack up her stuff, and I’d appreciate it if you would stay out at the ranch while we’re gone.”
The lawman watched as Amanda stood and joined Lex by the fireplace, then gave her a gentle rub on her back.
“Why? Not that I mind, but Martha has stayed out there by herself before.” He looked at the undisguised sadness in Lex’s eyes. “What is it?”
“Hubert is up to his usual tricks, although I really don’t think he has the balls to do anything. But he was pretty pissed when I chased him away from the ranch the other day, so I’m not sure what he may do.” Lex ran a hand through her dark hair nervously.
Uh-oh, they’re at it again. Charlie remembered breaking up several altercations between the siblings when they were growing up. “Umm, was there a particular reason you ran him off? He’s not going to try and press charges against you again, is he?”
Lex laughed. “Ah, no.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll come running to you this time, but I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out there, just in case.”
“Well, it’ll be a hardship, but I guess I can do it. How long are you planning on being gone?” The teasing tone in Charlie’s voice belied his words. He was just glad that Lex didn’t have a problem with him seeing Martha, which would be near impossible to get around.
Amanda guided Lex back to the loveseat. “We fly out tomorrow morning, and will be coming back Sunday afternoon. I’ve got to be back in the office on Monday.”
“Have you picked up the sedatives yet?” Charlie teased. “Or do you just need to borrow some handcuffs for the flight?”
Lex’s eyes narrowed. “Charlie—”
He laughed and winked at Amanda. “Or I should get someone from Animal Control to dart her before she boards?”
Lex stood up, glaring. “Charlie, I’d hate to make Martha a widow before you could talk her into being a bride.”
Looking surprised, the lawman blushed. “What makes you think, she’s never, ah, hell.” He stared down at the floor.
Teach him to pick on me. “Come on, Charlie, would it really be so bad to live at the ranch?”
His head lifted, and his eyes met hers. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Mind? Why the hell would I mind?” Lex stared at him in disbelief. “Martha is a grown woman, and I certainly have no hold on her.”
“Well, yeah. I know, but, I mean, she’s—”
Lex stood and crossed the room quickly, then knelt at Charlie’s feet. “You know, growing up, I had this ongoing dream. A fantasy, I guess.” She waited until the flustered man’s eyes met hers. “In my head, and I guess in my heart too, Martha was my mom. My real mom, and you were my dad.” The shocked happiness on his face let Lex know she was on the right track. “Hell, Charlie, you two practically raised me anyway. My own dad never really gave a damn about what I was doing. I just wish Martha would quit worrying so much about me and take care of her own happiness.”
Charlie cleared his throat, and there was a trace of tears in his gray eyes. “Honey,” he glanced at Amanda, “I don’t think she has a thing to worry about anymore.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Now I guess I’d better go on upstairs and pack a bag, since I’ll be out of town on vacation for a few days.” He winked at Lex, then stood. “And if I had ever had a daughter, I would hope she’d be like you.” He enveloped Lex in a loving hug. “Have a safe trip, Lex.” Charlie kissed the top of her head again and turned to leave the room. “Take care of our girl, Amanda.”
Lex sniffed, wiped her eyes, and then looked over at Amanda. “Come on, let’s go. We still have to get you packed.”
WANDERING AROUND THE Caubles’ house, Lex felt a little lost. Amanda was upstairs packing, and she found herself in the kitchen, watching as Anna Leigh stirred something on the stove.
“You look a little distracted, dear. Is something wrong?” Anna Leigh studied the quiet form leaning against the counter.
At the concerned tone, Lex looked up and saw only gentle understanding in Anna’s face. “Umm, actually, could I ask you a question? I’d really like your opinion on something.” She dropped her eyes back to the floor.
Sensing Lex’s discomfort, Anna Leigh led her over to the table, guiding Lex into a chair. “Of course, dearest. What is it?”
“Well—” Unsure, Lex paused, until she felt Anna Leigh squeeze her hands. “I would ask Amanda, but I don’t want to upset her. She’s got enough on her mind right now.” She looked down at their connected hands, startled at just how dainty Anna Leigh’s looked in hers.
“Lexington, look at me. Please.” Anna Leigh waited patiently until the shadowed eyes locked with hers. “There’s nothing you could ask of me that you should be embarrassed about.”
The rancher took a deep breath, momentarily closing her eyes. “I feel like such a hick.” She opened her eyes and gave Anna Leigh a shaky smile. “I don’t want to worry Amanda, but I’m a little concerned about this damned dinner party we’re supposed to attend.”
Anna Leigh looked at Lex in confusion. “Concerned? Why should you be concerned, Lexington? It’s just a dinner, not a costume or fashion ball.”
“Oh God, that would be a real nightmare, wouldn’t it? Although I’m gonna feel like I’m in some sort of costume anyway.” She looked into the beautiful eyes that reminded her so much of Amanda’s. “You know I love your granddaughter, right?” At Anna Leigh’s nod, she continued, “And that I’d do anything for her?”
“Of that, I have no doubt, dear.” Anna Leigh squeezed the suddenly cold hands that were laced with hers. “But?”
Lex looked down again. “I want to be there to support her, but I really don’t have anything good enough to wear to this sort of thing. And, I’m gonna be real uncomfortable in anything we buy, and then they’ll know what a bumpkin their daughter is hooked up with.” She gave the older woman an intense look. “I don’t care what they think about me. But I’ll be damned if I’m the cause for even one second of embarrassment for Amanda.” She released Anna Leigh’s hands and stood abruptly. “What am I going to do, Mrs, uh, I mean, Anna Leigh?” Lex paced back and forth across the bright kitchen like a skittish animal. “I’d die before hurting her.”
“Lexington, I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.” Anna Leigh stood and put her hand on the disturbed woman’s arm. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.” She rubbed the tense arm soothingly. “Now, why don’t you go on upstairs and drag my granddaughter down for dinner? It should be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Thanks for listening, Anna Leigh. Now I know where Amanda got her heart.” Lex left the older woman standing in the kitchen before she could reply.
AMANDA SAT IN the den watching the fire crackle in the fireplace. They had finished dinner over thirty minutes ago and Lex apologetically left the house shortly thereafter, after having received a mysterious phone call. She was so cute about leaving and worried that I’d be upset.
Anna Leigh’s voice echoed down the empty hallway. “Mandy? Where are you, dear?”
“In here, Gramma.” Amanda turned around on the sofa as her grandmother stepped into the room. “Hi.”
The older woman came in and sat down beside Amanda. “Is everything all right, dear? Lexington certainly left in a hurry. Y
ou two didn’t—” Have a fight or argument, she finished to herself, worried.
Amanda patted her grandmother’s leg. She heard the unasked question. “Oh, no, nothing like that. Lex just got a phone call and left to take care of something. She said she would be home in an hour or so.”
Anna Leigh relaxed against the sofa. “Thank goodness. I was afraid that you two had an argument about this trip.”
“What would we have to disagree about? Lex seems really excited about going.” Amanda turned sideways, so she could get a better look at her grandmother’s face. “Has she said anything to you?”
“Earlier while you were upstairs, Lexington came into the kitchen, asking if I needed any help. I could tell that something was bothering her, so I asked.” Anna Leigh chewed on her lower lip for a moment, thinking. When her granddaughter opened her mouth to interrupt, she held up her hand. “Shh. Wait, let me try and explain.” The shocked look on Amanda’s face made her words rush out. “Well, she did mention she’s a little afraid of embarrassing you.”
Amanda felt tears well up in her eyes. “I thought she was just nervous about flying.” My poor Lex. What am I going to do with you?
Anna Leigh caught Amanda’s hand. “Honey, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought that you should know. Lexington was embarrassed about the whole dinner thing.”
“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me how much this whole thing was bothering her,” Amanda muttered, an errant tear making its way down her face.
“Oh, Mandy.” Anna Leigh brushed the tear from Amanda’s cheek. “It’s not what you’re thinking. Lexington was afraid of upsetting you. She knows how worried you already are about this trip, and she didn’t want to add to your anxiety.”
“That goofy cow-chaser. When is she going to figure out that she’s a whole lot more important to me than any stupid dinner party?” Amanda whispered, more to herself than to her grandmother. Wiping her eyes with the back of one hand, she sniffled. “That’s it. I’m calling Mother right now and canceling. I refuse to make Lex feel this way.” She started to stand, but found her progress halted by a strong grip on her arm.
Anna Leigh pulled her granddaughter back down. “Wait. I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” She waited until she had Amanda’s complete attention. “How do you think it will make Lexington feel if you cancel out now?” When her granddaughter gave her a questioning look, she continued, “She’d probably feel that she was right, and that you’re embarrassed because she’s not used to being in that type of environment.”
Amanda opened her mouth to disagree, and then realized that what her grandmother said was true. “She would, wouldn’t she?” She already knew that her brooding lover, for all her kissmy-butt attitude, was emotionally very insecure. “But what can I do? I can’t hurt her that way. But I don’t want her to feel belittled or not good enough for my family, either.” Then a devious smile broke out on her face. “Oooh. I think I’ve got an idea.”
Elizabeth had better watch out. Mandy’s got that ‘take no prisoners’ look on her face. “You’re not going to do anything you might regret later, are you?”
Amanda laughed. “Of course not. I just have to plan my wardrobe, that’s all.” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Anna Leigh’s neck. “Thanks, Gramma, you’re the best.” Amanda kissed the older woman’s cheek then stood. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to go upstairs and finish packing.”
Anna Leigh rose as well. “No, not at all. Do you need a ride to the airport in the morning?” The nearest airport was an hour and a half away, and she didn’t know if Lex and Amanda wanted to leave a car there for the entire week.
“No, Lex said she just wanted to leave her truck at the airport, so no one would have to make a three hour round trip drive to take us and then pick us up.” Amanda stopped at the doorway. “But I really appreciate the offer, and I know Lex would too. I’ll see you and Grandpa in the morning, right?”
“Of course. Do you think we’d miss seeing you two off? Your grandfather would never forgive himself otherwise.” She crossed the room to meet Amanda at the door. “Try and get some rest tonight, dearest. The next few days will run you ragged, otherwise.” Anna Leigh pulled her granddaughter into an embrace.
“I will, I promise.” Amanda returned the squeeze, and felt a light kiss on the side of her head. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mandy. Goodnight.” Anna Leigh watched as the beautiful young woman walked down the hall and then practically skipped up the stairs. She’s up to something, and I can’t wait to see what it is.
LEX PULLED THE truck up to the Juvenile Detention Center and looked at her watch. I really should have told Amanda where I was going, but then she would have insisted on coming with me. I know she wants to spend as much time as possible with her grandparents before we leave. Lex walked through the doors of the two-story brick structure, the white walls almost brown with the passage of time. The foyer was brightly lit, with several heavy doors around and a Plexiglas service window off to the left of the entry doors. The rancher blinked a couple of times to adjust her eyes to the glare, then stepped up to the open window.
A middle-aged woman in a sheriff’s department uniform smiled up at Lex from the desk stationed behind the bulletproof service window. “You must be Lexington Walters. Do you have any weapons to check?” At Lex’s negative shake of her head, she continued, “Come on inside, Sergeant Roland is waiting for you in his office.” She pointed to the heavy door to the right of the window, “Go on, I’ll buzz you in.”
Lex walked over to the door, embarrassed by the loud sound her boots made on the tile floor. She put her hand on the doorknob and waited until she heard the tinny, buzzing of the lock release, then opened it. Letting the steel door close behind her, the rancher got a slight chill down her back when she heard the audible click, knowing she was locked in until someone let her out. Damn. I really hate this feeling. She shook her head, trying to dispel the growing unease she felt. She waited in the sally port until the other door buzzed, then stepped through into a hallway.
A deep voiced jarred her from her thoughts, as a short heavy-set man in his mid-fifties stepped out of a nearby office. “Ms. Walters, thank you for getting here so quickly. Please, come in and have a seat.” The smiling man escorted Lex into his office, pointing her to a chair in front of a severely cluttered desk. “I’m Sergeant Roland, by the way. I’m in charge of this facility.” He shook her hand before sitting down.
Lex leaned back slightly in her chair. “Is this in reference to that boy who was with the cattle thieves we caught on my property?” She rushed to the point, wanting to get out of the ‘facility’ and back to Amanda. Oh, I’ve got it bad, all right. I can’t even be out of her sight for more than a few minutes. Totally disgusting.
“Yes ma’am, as a matter of fact, it is.” He spent a few moments digging through the multiple piles of paperwork on the desk. “Ah. Here we go.” He opened up a plain brown folder and shuffled through the papers in it. “Sheriff Bristol said you were interested in putting the boy to work at the Rocking W, is that correct?”
“That’s right. But only if he’s interested. I have no desire to force the kid to work for me if he doesn’t want to.” Lex ran a hand through her hair. “And,” she leaned forward in her chair, “I don’t think anyone should be judged or punished for something that someone else in their family has done.”
Having heard the town gossip about the Walters’ family, the lawman could only nod his head. Having that skunk Hubert for kin certainly is proof of that theory. He read a page from the file, then closed it. “Well, it looks like Ronnie is an average student. Says here that he’s quiet and has never been in any type of trouble before. Would you like to talk to him before you make your decision? If you both agree, we’ll have to get him assigned as your ward, so that you both would be legally covered.”
“I’d be appointed as his legal guardian?” Lex questioned, unsure of her feelings. I didn’t do a very good j
ob with the last boy in my care.
“Yep.” Sergeant Roland stood up. “Why don’t we go talk to Ronnie, and then we can discuss all the boring legalities.” He escorted a silent Lex out of the room, guiding her down the eerie hallway until they reached another steel door. “Do you have any weapons that need to be checked?” Although he knew they asked the same question at the front window, he learned a long time ago not to take anything for granted in his line of work.
Making a show of patting her pockets, Lex quipped. “Hmm. I seemed to have left my bow and arrows in my other pants.”
Sergeant Roland shook his head. “Charlie warned me about you, and he told to give him a call if you caused too much trouble.” Using a key, he opened the door. “Follow me, please.”
Lex followed the chuckling man into another hallway, suppressing a shudder as the door clicked behind them. Good thing I never went in for a life of crime. I’d never survive being locked away like this.
Understanding what was keeping his guest quiet, the good sergeant decided to play tour guide. “Most of the boys we have stay in what we refer to as the Clubhouse. It’s an open bunk area that can hold up to twenty kids at once. Right now we only have seven.” He smiled proudly. “And they’re all pretty good boys, mostly just got in with the wrong crowd, or their families didn’t have time for them, sort of like Ronnie.” He opened a door on the left side, a few steps before the end of the hallway. “Here’s one of the visitation rooms. Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll go fetch the boy.”
Lex was pleased that this door didn’t automatically lock when it closed. Yeah, like it matters. Where in the hell can you go from here? She wandered around the small room, which had a table, two wooden chairs, and an old loveseat that hugged one wall. The walls were unadorned, but she was able to look out a double-glassed, wire meshed window, seeing the dark, empty street outside.
